Mega-citiesIn 1950, New York was the only city with more than 10 million inhabitants. Ther

Mega-cities

In 1950, New York was the only city with more than 10 million inhabitants. There are now 11cities housing over 11 million people each. Tokyo alone has 17 million. In 1995, their combined population totaled 166 million; in 2015 it is forecast to be over 204 million.

The world’s urban population, increasing at four times the rate of rural populations, will double in the period 1990-2025, to over five billion. Consequently, two-thirds of the people of the world will live in cities, some of which will be huge. Moreover, about 90% of the growth will be in developing countries. This growth, adding around 60 million people per year to city population, will be mainly in Southeast Asia and Africa. The consequences are dramatiC.This is change on a scale never before experienced, bringing with it considerable challenges and opportunities.

Why does this growth happen？ Most of it results from internal migration rather than the international movement of people, and is caused by a variety of push and pull factors.

One push factor is due to pressure on land availability. Improved health brings population growth, causing people to move out of rural areas. Others move because of climate change or poor farming methods which often result in deforestation and flooding. Such changes can alter the social structure, leading people to move. Furthermore, civil war or regional conflicts also cause disruption, driving people out of rural areas.

On the other hand, there are the pull factors. Cities attract people because of the demand for labor in the manufacturing and service industries. As a result, they offer a higher standard of living to the lucky ones. Cities also tend to offer greater personal freedom.

The world economy has expanded five-fold since 1950, with the cities driving the expansion. Much of this economic expansion has been in the developing countries of Southeast Asia. Therefore, most of the mega-cities of the future will be found there.

1.The combined total population of these 11 cities ________.

A.was 166 million in 1950

B.was 17 million in 1995

C.is 204 million now

D.will be over 204 million in 2015

2.

The world ’ s rural population ________.

A.increased at one fourth the rate of urban population

B.increased at four times the rate of urban population

C.will be four times bigger by 2025

D.will double in the period 1990-2025

3.

Which of the following is true according to this passage？ _________.

A.There are now 11 cities with a total population of 11 million people.

B.The world ’ s urban population will be four times bigger by 2025

C.Various push and pull factors cause people to move 正确

D.Two-thirds of the world ’ s population will live in cities in Southeast Asia and Africa.

4.

People choose to leave rural areas partly because _________.

A.climate change or poor farming methods result in deforestation and flooding 正确

B.the living standards of cities are much lower

C.the population of rural areas increased faster than that of urban areas

D.there are not enough space for people to live there

5.

We can conclude from the last paragraph that_________.

A.the world economy has declined since 1950

B.economic expansion leads to mega-cities 正确

C.the expansion is mainly taking place in Europe

D.there isn ’ t any economic expansion in the developing countries